Commencement
“Go forward, attempt great things, accomplish great things”
— Mary Lyon, Founder of Mount Holyoke College
Commencement is a treasured ceremonial occasion that celebrates students who have graduated from Mount Holyoke College after completing all academic requirements and obligations. Typically, Mount Holyoke holds one annual Commencement in May to honor all graduates.
Mount Holyoke’s one hundred eighty-ninth Commencement for the class of 2026 will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Commencement 2026 ceremony relocated
Please note that due to Sunday’s forecasted inclement weather, Mount Holyoke College’s one hundred eighty-ninth Commencement ceremony will be moved indoors to the Field House at the Kendall Sports & Dance Complex to ensure the safety of attendees and an enjoyable, memorable experience for our graduates.
Each graduate will have four tickets (not five) for their guests, which may be presented at the Field House for seating. Guest seating will open at 9 am, and guests must enter by 10:15 am.
Additional guests are welcome to watch via livestream at one of our on-campus viewing stations: the Great Room or Room 227b in the Community Center; the Morrison Room in the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center; or Gamble Auditorium. The livestream will also be available on our Commencement events livestream webpage.
Please note that this relocation is for the Commencement ceremony only. If weather-related adjustments must be made to other Commencement- or Reunion-related outdoor events, these will be communicated on an as-needed basis.
Graduates should monitor their email for communications from the Commencement Committee or the Graduate Program with further details about Commencement rehearsal and ceremony plans. Faculty will receive more information from the office of the provost and dean of faculty. Commencement contributors and student staff will receive further communications from the Commencement Committee.
This relocation requires adjustments to parking availability, so those coming to campus are encouraged to review campus parking and shuttle information on our Commencement Access and Accommodations webpage.
Before Commencement, all College community members should ensure their contact information is up-to-date in the emergency notification system. Guests who will be on campus for Commencement weekend can opt into this system for three days by texting “MHCGuestAlert” to 67283.
We are excited to welcome guests to our campus this weekend and look forward to celebrating our graduates and their accomplishments.
Press release
For seniors or families who wish to send out news of their accomplishments to their hometown newspapers, Mount Holyoke College has provided this press release template.
